All About Pocket Knives

Pritzlaff seems to be a fairly uncommon stamp seen out there. "John Pritzlaff Hardware Co." of Milwaukee Wisconsin, was a retailer and not a manufacturer which contracted out to other cutlery firms to produce their knives from c. 1850 to 1957 (per Goins). Pritzlaff's trademark was "EVERKEEN" and they had a great logo which was a blade edge slicing through their EVERKEEN name. The knife shown here has that blade etch logo which has survived in tact for over 75 years. I don't know who the major supplier of knives were for Pritzlaff, but I am fairly certain that this model was made by Ulster sometime between WWI and WWII. Would love to see any other Prittzlaff models in this thread.

That's a dandy Neal, and in excellent condition looks like. Nice box too!

There's been a bunch of Pritzlaffs posted previously in other threads so I bet others here have some to show.

Ken

That's a combo that gets the heart thumping'. Love the box with it

Just outstanding. I would PAY for that one.

Really nice classic jack with a very cool etch and great box to match Neal - Nothing like finding the complete collecting package and not easy ... What’s the closed length of it? Looks alot like some of the boys knives recently made by GEC - Just curious but what about the knife says Ulster made??

Thanks Mumbleypeg, Doc B, tongueriver, and LongBlade.
I really enjoy the research and mysteries surrounding so many interesting old knives.
Lee, The closed length is 3 inches, and while that borders on a Boy's knife in size, I would think of it more as a small gentleman's model.
The correlation with Ulster is shown with the enclosed catalog illustration from 1923. No measurement is given but you can see above the ad which states "Full Size". The O.P. knife lines up perfectly with the ad. Substitute the blade stamp and etch, along with the handle material and you have a match.

Exceptional, knife in great condition and a box to boot!

Thanks Dan.

Mason wrote:Thanks Mumbleypeg, Doc B, tongueriver, and LongBlade.
I really enjoy the research and mysteries surrounding so many interesting old knives.
Lee, The closed length is 3 inches, and while that borders on a Boy's knife in size, I would think of it more as a small gentleman's model.
The correlation with Ulster is shown with the enclosed catalog illustration from 1923. No measurement is given but you can see above the ad which states "Full Size". The O.P. knife lines up perfectly with the ad. Substitute the blade stamp and etch, along with the handle material and you have a match.

Thanks Neal ... No doubt it sure is a match to the Ulster ... The reason I mention Boys Knife was the similarity to the recent GECs though as we certainly know most old Boys Knives did not have tip bolsters (I think we found a few old examples when searching it out but they were more the unique than the classic Boys Knife - in fact I recently was gifted an old German made "Young Co" Boys Knife with tip bolster - even had a bail and a few links dangling from the old classic Boys knife chain ).. I think one can say at 3" it is possible but as you note perhaps more for a gentleman given the shield and especially tip bolster ... Interesting that the new GEC Boys Knives are almost a dead match in size (3.01") including a tip bolster - in fact Lyle's new Lick Creek Smooth Bone (not wood) Boys Knife has a bar shield and tip bolster though a clip master blade ... Nonetheless thanks for the info and no doubt the Pritzlaff is a beauty of a knife ...

A+ Neal,My kind of knife!

I sold a Pritzlaff small coke bottle a couple of years ago that was pretty much made by NYK. This one may be Ulster, but NYK is as good a guess. Barry I think also has a Pritzlaff that is a dead match for an NYK knife. The OP knife would line up pretty much perfectly with many 3" jack catalog prints, the example shown is no proof at all the knife is an Ulster product. Superb example of a Pritzlaff knife there!

Thanks Roger, and I believe you have quite a nice etched model also.

Thanks Gunsil, and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that New York Knife Co. also contracted out to Pritzlaff, especially on earlier models.

I had not clicked on this thread because I thought it would involve some obscure German manufacturer, not that there would be anything wrong in that, just not my area of interest.

Boy Howdy, but that is a sweet old knife and box!

Anybody would be glad to own such a pair.

Charlie Noyes

RobesonsRme.com wrote:I had not clicked on this thread because I thought it would involve some obscure German manufacturer, not that there would be anything wrong in that, just not ma area of interest.

Boy Howdy, but that is a sweet old knife and box!

Anybody would be glad to own such a pair.

Charlie Noyes

Thanks Charlie,and yes, Pritzlaff is certainly an odd name.

Museum quality example. I have no Pritzlaff farmers jacks...yet

Neal, great display knife and box just what I love!! I always thought NYK made them because I've seen a few advertising items for Pritzaff and NYK together. I sold a trapper awhile back that was definitely a NYK made knife.

I never knew about the Ulster connection but am not surprised.

Here is a felt that I have. NYK and Pritzaff together.

I had 2 Pritzlaff knives with synthetic handles that i sent off to be ebayed. They received almost no bidding, i assume because most collectors are unaware of this USA hardware store brand.
Hardware store brands would make a good collection focus, for someone beginning to collect knives.
kj

There are three or four local collectors that collect nothing but hardware firm knives and not just the three that existed here.

Charlie

galvanic1882 wrote:Neal, great display knife and box just what I love!! I always thought NYK made them because I've seen a few advertising items for Pritzaff and NYK together. I sold a trapper awhile back that was definitely a NYK made knife.

I never knew about the Ulster connection but am not surprised.

Here is a felt that I have. NYK and Pritzaff together.

Great piece of ephemera, galvanic!!!
That certainly cements NYK as one contractor for Pritzlaff.

This is a pair of Ulsters that has been posted in the past. Although the shield is different. They might be a match? These are both 3 1/16" closed.

Beautiful jacks with great etches Barry ...

I love the color of the bone on that one . Fine knives

I wonder why the pearl has those scratches on the blade ? I have an etched Never Dull which has the same type scratches,only much worse?

A couple of fine knives Barry!

1fartsmella wrote:This is a pair of Ulsters that has been posted in the past. Although the shield is different. They might be a match? These are both 3 1/16" closed.

Beautiful examples!!!

I have a 2-bladed nice bone handles knife Stamped on both blades J. Pritzlaff Hwe.Co Milwaukee
this knife has been used; the large blade shortened, sharpened and sadly ground down
But no matter this old survivor walks & talks and shows a lot of class and still a good one to carry
Don't know who made this knife but it's solid and well made
would like hear to more about this knife